The long summer break can take its toll on those returning to school, college and university, and more often than not, the first months back in classes can be an important period for developing a grasp of new topic areas. If you or your children are not quite back in the learning zone yet, it could be a great idea to prepare for the new term with a vitamin to help boost and support your studies and performance.

The vitamin aisle can be an overwhelming place though, with few people knowing exactly what supplement they need. With some industry–led advice from health supplements supplier, Pharma Nord, here we look at some of the best options when it comes to choosing a supplement to support your studies.

Vitamin B complex

The vitamin B complex refers to all eight different B vitamins, which all play unique roles in supporting healthy bodily functions. While most people can consume enough vitamin B in their diet, some choose to take it in a capsule form, and it is especially beneficial in the run–up to an exam or adjusting back into studies. Products that contain the vitamin B complex should contain some of each of the following variations, which are useful for people studying:

Vitamin B–1: Promotes the healthy growth of organs including the brain.

Vitamin B–6: Supports the creation of new red blood cells, as well as helping to keep the immune system strong–often students return to the learning environment with a whole host of new germs picked up from things like holidays.

Vitamin B–12: Helps to prevent pernicious anemia, which can result in a lack of energy, fatigue and dizziness, which hinder concentration abilities.

Bacopa Monnieri

Widely available in wholefood stores, Bacopa Monnieri is a plant that can be taken in capsule form, and it has been historically used in tradition Indian medicine. Its main benefits are the alleviation of anxiety, memory improvement and improving focus. It is used as a herbal remedy for conditions such as attention deficit–hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and even Alzheimer’s disease. It is understood to have a possible effect on stimulating the chemicals in the brain that are responsible for thinking, learning and memory function.

Valerian root

This herbal capsule can help to lessen the typical anxieties which can be heightened in the run up to a new term, with new challenges and new topics to process. Valerian usage dates back to both ancient Greek and traditional Chinese medicine, and it has also been suggested to remedy sleep disturbance. Getting plenty of rest is essential for supporting general health, and for students this is key to feeling refreshed on that all–important first day back. Often, Valerian is combined with passionflower in its capsule form, which adds to the calming effect and enhances the benefits from the herb.

Omega–3 fish oil capsules

While this one has a very distinctive taste, taking it on a regular basis might prove beneficial for your studies. Portions of oily fish such as mackerel and tuna are rich in omega–3 fatty acids, so for some people an omega–3 tablet isn’t necessary if their diet is already rich in fish oil. However, there are a string of impressive benefits which have been associated with consuming it, especially for aiding education studies. It has been found to have possible effects on the attention span of children, helping them to focus when taken regularly. Learning in early life is extremely important and taking an omega–3 supplement could promote positive behaviors.

L-Theanine

This amino acid has been associated with improving concentration, reducing feelings of stress and enhancing relaxation. Various research has shown that l-theanine had positive effects on mood in people, and while it can be taken in capsule form, it is also available in black tea and bay–bolete mushrooms. Be aware that some capsules of this vitamin include caffeine, which does not always have the same effect.

Way back in the twentieth century when I was “cutting my teeth” in the teaching profession in London’s “east end” (no Canary Wharf, no Dockland’s Light Railway and no one bedroom appartments costing in excess of half a million pounds in those days !) I managed to acquire the nickname “Mr. Detention.”

How did this come about you may ask? Well to be brutally honest, it was mainly because my classroom control was “not of the highest order”……. and that’s a typical educational euphemism for “a load of rubbish.”

Pupils (we didn’t call them students in those days !) would frequently turn up late, in dribs and drabs, especially if they had had PE in the previous lesson. When they did eventually all turn up quite a few of them realised that they had forgotten to bring a pen, ruler, pencil, etc. More wasted time, more disruption, more minor chaos, while I dispatched one of the reliable kids up to the second floor to Ms. Patel’s class to borrow pens, pencils, rulers etc so I could at last get on with the lesson.

Almost fifteen minutes had “gone down the pan” before the lesson could start. Multiply that by about 80 lessons and it’s not difficult to see how much time had been wasted over the course of a year.

Combine that with my poor classroom control and it’s easy to see why so many pupils behaved badly and weren’t really bothered about learning. The result being that I used to dish out detentions like they were going out of fashion, hence the name Mr. Detention.

Fortunately for suceeding generations of pupils I took my leave of the profession after 22 years service. If only I had known then what I know now; that’s there’s a product called the “StudentEssentials set,” which, while it wouldn’t have turned me into an award winning teacher, might at least have made life easier for pupils who had the misfortune to go to my lessons!

What is the “Student Essentials set” and how can it make teachers’ lives easier?

It comprises three good quality ballpens with black ink, two HB pencils, a 15 cm ruler, an eraser, and a pencil sharpener, all packed in an “exam friendly” clear PVC wallet with a zip slider, size 158 x 220 mm. All a student needs for most lessons.

If the school office or school shop, or perhaps each department could hold stock to sell or give away at the start of the day it could make life easier for many students. After all, for about a pound each, it’s a convenient way to help students and at the same time cut out wasted time at the start of lessons.

Prices: 85p (400+) 88p (200+) 90p (1-199) ex vat

The “Student Essentials set” can be obtained from Signpost Educational Ltd who can be contacted at: signpost@talk21.com or 020 7515-1797.

It’s not easy to ensure that every student comes to school or college properly equipped for lessons or exams.

Some may simply have woken up late and left home in a rush. Some might benefit from being better organised while others need to learn to be a bit more responsible.

What we do know, however, is that time is often wasted at the start of lessons while some students try to borrow what they need to benefit from their lesson.

All it needs is for a few students to forget a pen, ruler, pencil, etc, and what was supposed to be a well planned, interesting lesson can become unproductive if some students are ready and able to work while others are not.

But now there’s a simple, effective and low cost way of solving the problem ….it’s the “STUDENT ESSENTIALS” set.

Consisting of, three quality black ink pens, two full length HB pencils, a 15 cm ruler, pencil sharpener, eraser, all contained in a clear “exam friendly” PVC wallet with a zip slider…. From just 85p each, ex vat, it’s a simple and effective way of improving productivity and helping students succeed in their lessons and exams. …not to mention making life easier for teaching staff.

Staff might like to keep “Student Essentials” sets in the school or department office and then sell or give to students when the need arises.

Every now and again I get to chat with teachers and one of the topics that often crops up is why many students don’t bring a pen, pencil, ruler, etc, to their lessons. They tell me that this leads to wasted time and a measure of disruption, even before teaching has begun.

In an attempt to solve this problem there’s now a product called the “Value Maths set” which, as the name suggests, contains all the basics that students need for their maths lessons.

From just £ 1.25 each (ex vat) the “Value Maths set” is a convenient and cost effective solution to the problem of students who haven’t brought the correct kit to their maths lessons. Ideal to give or sell to students at the start of lessons or at the start of a school day……… also very useful for exams.

It’s not easy to ensure that every student comes to school or college properly equipped for lessons or exams.

Some may simply have woken up late and left home in a rush. Some might benefit from being better organised while others need to learn to be a bit more responsible.

What we do know, however, is that time is often wasted at the start of lessons while some students try to borrow what they need to benefit from their lesson.

All it needs is for a few students to forget a pen, ruler, pencil, etc, and what was supposed to be a well planned, interesting lesson can become unproductive if some students are ready and able to work while others are not.

But now there’s a simple, effective and low cost way of solving the problem ….it’s the “STUDENT ESSENTIALS” set.

Consisting of, three quality black ink pens, two full length HB pencils, a 15 cm ruler, pencil sharpener, eraser, all contained in a clear “exam friendly” PVC wallet with a zip slider…. From just 85p each, ex vat, it’s a simple and effective way of improving productivity and helping students succeed in their lessons and exams. …not to mention making life easier for teaching staff.

Staff might like to keep “Student Essentials” sets in the school or department office and then sell or give to students when the need arises.

Every now and again I get to chat with teachers and one of the topics that often crops up is why many students don’t bring a pen, pencil, ruler, etc, to their lessons. They tell me that this leads to wasted time and a measure of disruption, even before teaching has begun.

In an attempt to solve this problem there’s now a product called the “Value Maths set” which, as the name suggests, contains all the basics that students need for their maths lessons.

From just £ 1.25 each (ex vat) the “Value Maths set” is a convenient and cost effective solution to the problem of students who haven’t brought the correct kit to their maths lessons. Ideal to give or sell to students at the start of lessons or at the start of a school day……… also very useful for exams.

Right now is a great time to discuss giving your students the advantage of live performance in the upcoming school year. We’re here throughout the holidays and happy to chat about bringing top quality live performance to your school.

Next year there are five productions designed with the needs of your GCSE students in mind:

A Christmas Carol

Macbeth

Romeo and Juliet

Jekyll and Hyde

Much Ado About Nothing

And for your younger students, starting out on their Shakespeare studies:

Fred’s Shakespeareance

We’ve recently been working closely with schools and our in-house team of educationalists to refine our offer. We think we now have something very special that will really help your students with their studies. There’s lots more information on our web site:

On the web site you may also sign up to receive our regular newsletters just for teachers, and there’s also an enquiry form if you’d like to explore making a booking with us.

Alternatively, feel free to e-mail Helen, our tour administrator, helen@fred-theatre.co.uk, or call us on 01789 777612. We’ll collect a few details from you and respond with potential dates and a quote.

Whether you’ve asked the children that question or not the chances are you can guess the most popular answers. Play time, lunch break, games, the reading of a story, art…

But does anyone say “Assembly”?

If any children do give that as an answer they are probably going to be in a minority, and yet it ought to be possible to generate more enthusiasm for assemblies, since the assembly is an opportunity to do something utterly different from what happens in the rest of the day.

Indeed, there is no reason why the children should not look forward to each day’s assembly in order to find out what new and exciting event is going to happen next.

And there is, of course, a bonus here, because in such a scenario what we inevitably find is that one has everyone’s complete attention.

It was with this idea in mind that I began to collect ways of delivering Assemblies that did more than meet the statutory requirement. Assemblies that become as riveting as the TV programme that children ensure they get home in time to watch each day.

But, of course, assemblies need more than originality, for they also need to meet the social and emotional needs of the children who attend them and offer a focus on the values that the school wishes to present to the children.

As a result of this thinking we have produced a set of over 350 assemblies which are instantly available and fully scripted. And we are still working on the project with new assemblies being added every month.

These assemblies are divided into 12 categories along with an index which allows you to choose your assembly by topic. You can read a full example of one of our assemblies by following this link.

Additionally you can see the complete list of the 12 main categories and from there you can go into each category and see the details of all the assemblies on offer.

A new TrailBlazer group has now been set up to develop government funded training for SENCOs, Teachers, Teaching Assistants and School Nurses to become registered Play Therapists. 90% of the total cost (estimated at £14,000 over a three year period) will be provided for training at level 7 (Post Graduate) once the proposed scheme is fully developed.

At the recent inaugural meeting nearly 100 primary schools were represented. Clusters all over England are now being set up but there’s only capacity for another 200 schools.

The training will meet:

The new Ofsted inspection requirements coming into force this September;

registration on the Professional Standard Authority’s Accredited Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists;

This is a marvellous opportunity to provide therapeutic support for your pupils with social, emotional, behaviour and mental health issues. Much reduced waiting lists for CAHMS, better than just a Mental Health Lead, excellent career progression for one or two staff members.

If you have a need and a suitable member of staff for training please register now. There’s no commitment at this stage.

The Casio FX 83 GT+ was the UK’s best selling scientific calc…and deservedly so. It’s been setting the pace in many UK schools and colleges and was the first choice for GCSE exams for many students.

But now it’s been discontinued, having been replaced by an upgraded spec’ model at a higher price. Top grade maths students are likely to benefit from this new model (FX83GTX), but what about the majority, for whom the FX83GT+ was perfectly adequate and available at a reasonable price?

Well, the news is positive. There is an alternative……

It’s the Logik LK 83XP which has almost all the features of the FX 83GT Plus but with one big advantage…… it’s dual power. This combination of battery and solar power prolongs battery life and gives students extra reassurance, especially when used in exams.

The LK 83XP has a THREE year guarantee* and is suitable for all exams where a calculator is allowed. Features include: 252 functions, “natural (textbook) display,” check, correct and replay, stats calculations, prime factorisation, hard plastic keys, slide on case, etc.

It’s a calc which can see your students all the way from year 7 to GCSE and at a surprisingly modest price. (*excludes LCD damage)

Streets Apart by Jackie Lines

A new and ground-breaking play, Streets Apart deals with the growing crisis of 21st Century homelessness.

How can it happen in a wealthy country like ours?

This brilliant new contemporary script explores the moving struggles of homelessness and the uphill challenge of surviving another day.

What are the issues behind homelessness and how do those less fortunate end up on a downward spiral in life?

In a heartbeat everything could change and this becomes your destiny.

The visceral story follows the journey of two young vulnerable people living in a tent and lost to the world and themselves. Set on the dark and threatening streets and in the safety of a Day Centre, their stories throw light on a crisis in society that is rarely understood.

Streets Apart brings a powerful insight into homeless through innovative and immersive theatre. Blazing with tension, energy and passion, this inspirational play explores the fragility of life.

And how lives can change when a community comes together.

An ideal production for students looking to address contemporary issues in society. The play also highlights for students the need for a sound financial footing in life as rents increase and affordable housing becomes scarce.

MUSIC & LYRICS: “Someone to Hold”. Written by Chris Musson. Included in Script Cost. Free of PRS.

RUNNING TIME: approx. 1hr 25 mins.
CAST: Unlimited, male and female
STRONG LANGUAGE: The author is happy for this to be adapted age appropriately.
PERFORMANCE SPACE: The play is ideally performed on the flat or a thrust stage.

COST: £50 for a single performance, £40 for each additional performance. A full copy of the script will be emailed to you with permission for photocopying.

I wrote to schools recently about our plans for 2019-20, and I’m happy to report the response I had back has been just great. You seem to be as excited about our innovations as we are.

Here at Fred Theatre we’ve been taking live performance into schools for three years, and we’re very thrilled about developments for next year. Coming up are the following productions:

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

JEKYLL AND HYDE

MACBETH

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

ROMEO AND JULIET

We’re extending the time we spend with you to two hours.

The longer sessions allow us to include an interactive element alongside the performance. During this time there will be a discussion of the text’s themes, characters, how we approached the production, and choices made in rehearsal. There will also be a chance for you and your students to ask questions.

Every student receives a printed programme.

Along with cast and crew details, programmes will include notes on the production and text, as well as supporting material for students to use in the interactive post-show session. Students will be able to keep these for use in class and as a valuable revision aid.

We’re introducing pre-visit information sheets.

We will provide you with copies of information sheets, for distribution to students ahead of our being with you. These will provide valuable information about the text and production and we’re sure your students will want to keep them with their class notes to use in revision. These sheets will help build a sense of anticipation ahead of the performance, encouraging students to value our visit to your school, and make the most of their opportunity to learn from it.

We stay true to the text.

Teachers tell us they really appreciate our commitment to the text and producing a faithful rendition of the original, just a little shorter! And, all we need to perform at your school is a space approximately 5m x 5m with room (of course) for the audience. We may be low on tech, but we pride ourselves on being high on quality of performance.

We employ six professional actors for each production.

Six professional actors perform our GCSE text-based productions; we feel fewer than six compromises quality. All Fred Theatre staff attending your school are DBS checked, trained in child safeguarding and experienced in the idiosyncrasies of in-school performance and workshop delivery.

We’re open throughout the summer, but right now is the best time to talk to us about bringing our popular productions to your school. Booking is open, and dates are being reserved for schools across the country. To ensure you have the pick of dates available, please contact us soon.

To discuss any aspect of a visit from Fred Theatre to your school, please feel free to contact me or Helen Warrilow, our tour administrator. You can call us on 01789 777612 or email:

Ghost stories, tales of the supernatural, and ultimately what we might call spooky stories, can all be exciting and interesting to many secondary school readers.

But, of course, not every young student enjoys such work – and none of us wishes to give a little bit of a fright to students who have no desire to receive even a little jolt.

Which is why no one would ever suggest that such works – even when they are classics – should be made compulsory reading for every secondary school student.

However, they are part of our heritage, and there have, over the years, been many students who have started the journey into reading fiction as a regular activity through the works of authors such as Edgar Allen Poe, HP Lovecraft or indeed Sheridan Le Fanu.

Which is why we have put together a collection of some 30 books from the English gothic tradition, all written by literary masters, from Edith Wharton to Wilkie Collins.

Our works include reprints of these classics from as little as £2.25 each, (after deducting our 25% school discount), with no delivery charge and no minimum order.

If you would like to see our full list of classic ghost stories, weird tales, and intriguing, outlandish mysteries please click here.

Some schools take these volumes and put them in the school library, while others have copies under the direct control of the English teaching staff, so that young students can be advised as to what they will be reading, before they borrow any such book.

But of one thing there can be no doubt. Tens of thousands (perhaps hundreds of thousands, perhaps even more) of young people have found their way to becoming regular readers through discovering these classics.

In case you have not come across Wordsworth Editions before we are able to supply a free copy of one of our titles upon request. Please write to us, without any obligation, at education@wordsworth-editions.com with your name and the school address, and we’ll put it in the post to you with our compliments.

In recent years it has become increasingly clear that self-esteem is a key issue in determining progress at school. Generally speaking, the more self-esteem a student has, the more positive the individual feels about her/his life.

And as a result of this enhanced self-esteem, the more the individual develops and enhances her/his abilities.

There are of course many ways of enhancing self-esteem, but one approach that is particularly effective, and indeed comparatively easy to establish with a very low cost base, is singing in an ensemble.

This in itself can, of course, be achieved through simply singing in a school choir. But when the school takes part in a national exhibition of singing, and the pupils and students perform alongside 5,000 others from schools across the country, the results can be extraordinary.

For many such an experience is the start of a revolution in the way that they see the world and perceive their place within it. Increased levels of engagement with and enjoyment of school work inevitably follow.

It was to encourage this sort of experience and development that we established “Voice in a million” 10 years ago. It gives an opportunity for all participants to come together united in song to perform in front of their own family, friends, and a sizeable audience. It has been billed as ‘The World’s most spectacular school concert’

2400 schools and in excess of 110,000 children have taken part in our previous concerts and in 2020, 350 schools and 15,000 more children will again experience Voice in a Million at Wembley on the 17th, 18th and 19th March.

The cost is only £12.50 per participant. We supply all the rehearsal materials, plus the concert t-shirt for each individual to wear and keep as a souvenir.

What’s more, for those who join us each year Voice in a Million acts as an inspirational event that can change their perceptions both of themselves and of the world around them.

You can find out more about Voice and a Million, read our testimonials from parents and teachers, and get all the detail, on our website.

The new TrailBlazer group has now been set up to develop government funded training for SENCOs, Teachers, Teaching Assistants and School Nurses to become registered Play Therapists. 90% of the total cost (estimated at £12,000 over a two year period) will be provided for training at level 7 (Post Graduate) once the proposed scheme is fully developed.

This is a marvellous opportunity to provide therapeutic support for your pupils with social, emotional, behaviour and mental health issues. Much reduced waiting lists for CAHMS, better than just a Mental Health Lead, excellent career progression for one or two staff members.

The new TrailBlazer group has now been set up to develop government funded training for SENCOs, Teachers, Teaching Assistants and School Nurses to become registered Play Therapists. It is confirmed that 90% of the total cost (estimated at £12,000 over a two year period) will be provided for training at level 7 (Post Graduate) once the proposed scheme is fully approved.

At the recent inaugural meeting nearly 100 primary schools were represented. Become a part of this Beacon group. There’s room for another 200 from any part of England, organised in clusters of 12 – 16 schools.

The training will meet:

The new Ofsted inspection requirements coming into force this September;

registration on the Professional Standard Authority’s Accredited Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists;

This is a marvellous opportunity to provide therapeutic support for your pupils with social, emotional, behaviour and mental health issues. Much reduced waiting lists for CAHMS, better than just a Mental Health Lead, excellent career progression for one or two staff members.

Money makes the world go round, and it’s at the centre of our day-to-day lives for a variety of reasons. A 2018 study found that three quarters of Britons were worried about their finances, and further research concluded that over half of UK adults are concerned that their mental health is suffering in relation to money worries. It’s really is a matter of education, as young adults often feel that they were not taught enough about money and budgeting during their years in education. So, what’s the current situation and how can we improve on teaching young people how to manage their finances? We take a look, with some help from Business Rescue Expert, company liquidation specialists.

The millennial challenge

Millennials have brought a host of gaps in the teaching of finance to the surface, and countless studies have concluded that when it comes to money, this generation haven’t been taught adequate lessons. Millennials’ spending patterns stand in stark contrast to their predecessors; they’re keen to splash out on experiences and don’t often take to the idea of big commitment purchases seriously — for example, houses. Millennial spending habits signify the disparity of their knowledge and attitude towards budgeting — research has found that 60% of these youngsters said they are willing to spend more than £3.11 on a single cup of coffee, while only 29% of baby boomers would splurge for caffeine. A lack of financial literacy in education has undoubtedly played a role in this, with many young people under the illusion that simply earning a lot of money means that you’ll never be in any debt, along with a general unwillingness when it comes to making sacrifices for the sake of budgeting. One survey found that 42% of teenagers said that they wanted their parents to talk more about finances, and a staggeringly low 32% said that they knew how credit card fees and interest worked. Teenage years are pivotal points for learning, so why is financial literacy being left out?

Revised curriculums

Finances are complex and teaching them can require a lot of technicality and practical examples in order to make any sense. Lessons in finance differ from core subjects like English and Science, as they provide life skills which, if not learned, will be detrimental as kids grow older and enter adult life. One UK primary school created its own bank, to combat ‘below average’ financial literacy learning. Despite financial literacy being introduced to the national curriculum in England in 2014, not everyone believes that school is the place for financial education. Some believe the duty should be on parents to teach their children the real value of money and how to approach it. It’s worth noting that in private schools, faith schools, and academies, it isn’t a compulsory part of the curriculum, so many youngsters would still miss out on these lessons. A lot of schools who do incorporate it into the school day compartmentalize it into general ‘citizenship’ lessons, but it’s arguable whether enough emphasis is placed on it here.

The benefits of teaching financial literacy

The areas of financial literacy currently covered under the national curriculum include savings and investments, pensions, mortgages, insurance, and financial products. It’s still a relatively recent introduction to schools, so not all teachers may feel confident in teaching it yet, due to the specialised, complex nature of the topics. There is also the matter of religious differences in the approach to and teaching of these finance lessons. Followers of the Islamic faith are prohibited from using any form of compound interest. This relates to things like conventional mortgages, student loans and car loans, all of which are commonplace in many other cultures.

For this reason, making financial literacy universal, understandable, and an essential part of learning can be difficult. Maths might seem like an obvious place to drop lessons of finance in amongst existing content, but debate is rife as to whether subjects like trigonometry are still deserving for a place on exam papers, when finance lessons could take their place and provide long-lasting life skills.

While there is undoubtedly an absence and lack of depth in financial literacy, these lessons could become more popular in the future. These skills will prove invaluable for youngsters as they progress through life, and they could eventually counteract the stereotype of a financially irresponsible or illiterate millennials.

Whether you’ve asked the children that question or not, the chances are you can guess the most popular answers. Play time, lunch break, games, the reading of a story, art…

But does anyone say “Assembly”?

If any children do give that as an answer they are probably going to be in a minority, and yet it ought to be possible to generate more enthusiasm for assemblies, since the assembly is an opportunity to do something utterly different from what happens in the rest of the day.

Indeed, there is no reason why the children should not look forward to each day’s assembly in order to find out what new and exciting event is going to happen next.

And there is of course a bonus here, because in such a scenario what we inevitably find is that one has everyone’s complete attention.

It was with this idea in mind that I began to collect ways of delivering Assemblies that did more than meet the statutory requirement. Assemblies that become as riveting as the TV programme that children ensure they get home in time to watch each day.

But of course assemblies need more than originality, for they also need to meet the social and emotional needs of the children who attend them and offer a focus on the values that the school wishes to present to the children.

As a result of this thinking we have produced a set of over 350 assemblies which are instantly available, and fully scripted. And we are still working on the project with new assemblies being added every month.

These assemblies are divided into 12 categories along with an index which allows you to choose your assembly by topic. You can read a full example of one of our assemblies by following this link

Additionally you can see the complete list of the 12 main categories and from there you can go into each category and see the details of all the assemblies on offer.

Yes, you might well agree that it would be a good idea to have a copy of the Tao Te Ching in the library, along with Plato’s Republic, The Wealth of Nations, ThusSpake Zarathustra, and The Holy Qur’an in the library, simply because some of your sixth form students might want to find out what such books, of which they have heard much, actually look like.

The trouble is the list doesn’t stop with those four titles. One could add The Rights of Man, The Divine Comedy, Hobbs’ Leviathan, or More’s Utopia. And indeed, this list could go on and on.

There are probably around 50 such absolute classic texts which the occasional sixth form student might want to have a look at, if for no other reason than just to see what all the fuss is about.

But given the fact that these books are by and large fairly thick volumes the cost could be…

Well, actually not nearly as much as you might imagine, because Wordsworth Editions have published a list of some 50 classic titles from across the world at just £2.99 each after deduction of our 25% educational discount with free delivery.

We have set out our list of some of the most influential books ever written, encompassing politics, economics, psychology, religion and much more on the “World Literature” page of our online catalogue.

And in case you are wondering about the quality of the books provided at such reasonable prices, we still have open the free sample of one of our classics offer – which includes not only no charge for the book but also no packing, postage or delivery charges either. Just email education@wordsworth-editions.com or you can go straight to the website for full details of how to order.

I do hope you will find something of interest for yourself and your school on our website, but if not, please do get in touch. Here are all details…

During the course of their primary school lives, most children will take part in over 1000 assemblies.

Which provides a significant challenge. How can one ensure that each day’s assembly has an immediate impact on each child, and then, additionally ensure that some of these assemblies have such an impact that they will be remembered for months (and sometimes even years) to come?

This is the issue that schools face every day through the school year, and it is the issue we looked to solve when we created Assembly Box.

The aim has been to create a series of 350 outstanding assemblies that really engage the pupils and which they will remember over time.

Each assembly is fully scripted and the collection comes with a complete index so that you can choose your assembly by topics as diverse as community and citizenship, saints’ days, black history, social and emotional stories and so on.

What’s more each assembly comes with its own supporting presentation material, and a set of ready-to-use key word cards. The assemblies can be downloaded and printed out, thus making them immediately usable without further preparation.

You can see a complete list of the 12 main categories our assemblies are divided into here on our website, and from there you can go into each categories and see the details of all the assemblies on offer. Just visit http://www.assemblybox.co.uk/

You can read a full example of one of our assemblies by following this link. Additionally you can see the complete list of the categories and from there you can go into each category and see the details of all the assemblies on offer.

Here at Fred Theatre we’re committed to bringing texts to life for students across the country. We’ve been working on this now for three years, and we’re very excited about developments for 2019-20.

Coming up are the following productions:

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

JEKYLL AND HYDE

MACBETH

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

ROMEO AND JULIET

We’re extending the time we spend with you to two hours.

The longer sessions allow us to include an interactive element alongside the performance. During this time there will be a discussion of the text’s themes, characters, how we approached the production, and choices made in rehearsal. There will also be a chance for you and your students to ask questions.

Every student receives a printed programme.

Along with cast and crew details, programmes will include notes on the production and text, as well as supporting material for students to use in the interactive post-show session. Students will be able to keep these for use in class and as a valuable revision aid.

We’re introducing pre-visit information sheets.

We will provide you with copies of information sheets, for distribution to students ahead of our being with you. These will provide valuable information about the text and production and we’re sure your students will want to keep them with their class notes to use in revision. These sheets will help build a sense of anticipation ahead of the performance, encouraging students to value our visit to your school, and make the most of their opportunity to learn from it.

We stay true to the text.

Teachers tell us they really appreciate our commitment to the text and producing a faithful rendition of the original, just a little shorter! And, all we need to perform at your school is a space approximately 5m x 5m with room (of course) for the audience. We may be low on tech, but we pride ourselves on being high on quality of performance.

We employ six professional actors for each production.

Six professional actors perform our GCSE text-based productions; we feel fewer than six compromises quality. All Fred Theatre staff attending your school are DBS checked, trained in child safeguarding and experienced in the idiosyncrasies of in-school performance and workshop delivery.

Booking is now open.

Right now is the best time to talk to us about bringing our popular productions to your school. Booking is open, and dates are being reserved for schools across the country. To ensure you have the pick of dates available, please contact us soon.

To discuss any aspect of a visit from Fred Theatre to your school, please feel free to contact me or Helen Warrilow, our tour administrator. You can call us on 01789 777612 or email:

At a time when there have been increases in the price of classroom chairs it’s nice to be able to report that it’s still possible to purchase classroom chairs from an established UK manufacturer at very competitive prices.

It’s true that there is a limited colour range and just one seat height (430 mm) but at these prices, AND with a FIVE year warranty, it’s hard to ignore the benefits of having extra seating eg. for exams, fitting out temporary classrooms or just for use in emergencies.

The “Poplar” classroom chair is available in black or blue from just £ 8.98 ex vat (200+) (slightly more for smaller quantities). Quick delivery can usually be arranged, subject to stock availability.

PS. A range of classroom tables (manufactured in the UK and with up to a 15 year guarantee) are also available in a range of shapes, sizes and colours. Details on the website or phone if you’d like to chat about different options. No hard sell, no obligation to buy !

This incident happened when I was doing playground break duty in a London school many years ago. I was standing next to a group of boys when a couple of them threw some crisps and sweet wrappers on the floor. If my memory serves me correctly I asked them if they lived in a rubbish tip and why couldn’t they just wait until they got to a litter bin before getting rid of their wrappers. They looked at me as if I’d just dropped in from another planet. “But sir,” they said, “there’s people whose job it is to pick up rubbish.”

It made me wonder how they were brought up and why they didn’t seem bothered about turning their school playground into a dumping ground for sweet wrappers, drink cans and fast food boxes, etc.

So how can we encourage students to be a bit more responsible?

I’ve always thought that the more litter bins there are scattered around a school, (both indoors and outdoors), the more likely they are to be used. After all if a litter addict has only got to take two steps to a bin, rather than thirty, there’s a pretty good chance that he’ll take those two steps. Which leads me to why I’m writing this email to you.

Having done a stint of 22 years secondary teaching in inner city London I’m now involved in supplying furniture (and litter bins!) to schools and colleges throughout the UK and I’d like to make you an offer which I hope will lead to a reduction in litter in your school.

Our litter bins are manufactured in the UK from durable polyethylene plastic and are suitable for internal or external use. Each bin has a rigid plastic liner to make it easy to dispose of litter when full. The large capacity round bin (volume 118 litres) measures 510 mm diameter x 960 mm high. The square bin (volume 45 litres) measures 375 x 375 mm and is 870 mm high. Choose red, blue or green.

The square bins are £105 each while the round bins are £129 each….and here’s where we hope you’ll take advantage of our offer and at the same time encourage your students to use a litter bin rather than the floor to dispose of their wrappers and drink cans, etc.

When you order five or more bins (in a single order) we’ll give you an extra bin completely FREE….a saving of more than £100. Simply email, phone or post your order to:

Steve Brown wakes up late, doesn’t even have time for a bowl of cereal, rushes out of the house, gets the bus with two seconds to spare and just about makes it to registration…..

and then he remembers that his school bag is still on the living room table. It’s got his exercise books, homework sheets, pencil case, pens, ruler, eraser calculator etc……….

No homework, no pen, no ruler, no pencils, no sharpener, no eraser.

Not a good way to start the day.

The chances are that on a typical school day there’s probably quite a few students in the same boat as Steve,,,,wondering how they’re going to get through the day without the basics they need for most lessons.

The “Student Essentials set” can help in situations like this. It’s designed to provide the basic equipment for most lessons and costs from just 85p + vat.

It’s a convenient way for students to get the equipment they need, whether in an emergency (like Steve Brown) or under more normal conditions. Schools and colleges can buy these in bulk and resell to students (or possibly even give them away now and again….)

As you know, there are a lot of regulatory subjects that school staff have to be aware of these days, such as ‘Safeguarding’ for example, ‘Positive Handling’, ‘Prevent Duty’ and ‘Lockdown Procedures’….and many more.

The quickest and most cost effective way to deliver training in these subjects is through online learning, but how effective is it?

Our online courses use ‘interactive video’. So they don’t involve just boring text and graphics delivered like an online book. We use professional video tutors and video sequences which make the courses more engaging, easy to follow and memorable.

Every one of our courses have been developed in the UK, are bang up-to-date and have been approved by the appropriate professional bodies. Each course also includes assessments and certification for every member of staff who completes.

And for a limited period, we are offering our courses to schools for just £10 per head, a reduction of more than 75% in most cases.

So why not help yourself to a free preview? The first module of every course is available to view free of charge. Click here to gain instant access.

Every now and again I get to chat with teachers and one of the topics that often crops up is why some students don’t bring a pen, pencil, ruler, etc, to their lessons. They tell me that this leads to wasted time and a measure of disruption, even before teaching has begun.

In an attempt to solve this problem there’s a product called the “Value Maths set ” which, as the name suggests, contains all the basics that students need for their maths lessons.

From just £1.25 each (ex vat) the “Value Maths set” is a convenient and cost effective solution to the problem of students who haven’t brought the correct kit to their maths lessons. Ideal to give or sell to students at the start of lessons or at the start of a school day……… also very useful for exams.

Talking to a teacher recently, she said that learning to type was the most useful skill she ever learned – apart from driving. Yet around 85% of schools are not providing their pupils with any keyboard skills training.

At Type&Test, we have specialised in interactive online keyboard skills training for children and adults for almost 15 years. Our training and assessment tools deliver high success rates and are the only ones approved by Awarding Bodies to support optional national keyboard skills qualifications.

Through our ‘Total’ managed solution, available until 31st July at a massively reduced price of just £250 plus VAT (normally £950), we’ll provide online access for an unlimited number of pupils in your school to a fun engaging and effective typing training and assessment system. And we’ll do everything for you, from enrolments to user support and provide all the usage and progress data you want!

Click here to find out exactly what’s included in our ‘Total’ package.

Try Before you Buy!

Click the links below to see a free sample lesson from our courses. You don’t need a user name or password – just click on the ‘sample lesson’ tab and wait a few seconds for your sample lesson to launch.

Want typing training only for a few pupils? Or interested in ordering a licence for longer than one year? Then contact us for prices.

For orders placed by 31st July, we are offering this complete package for a staggeringly low price of just £250 plus VAT, a huge £700 reduction off our normal list price. Click here to place your order!

If you have any questions you want to ask first, please email enquiries@typeandtest.com or phone me, Andy Stevenson, on 017683 42821 – I’ll be happy to help.

Ed has been a teacher for more than thirty years, working in several London boroughs. He started out as a supply teacher, then moved on to be a subject teacher, head of year and head of department.

Now and again he would recount some of the more “grisly” goings on in whichever school he was working at the time…..and it wasn’t only the students he got “naffed off” with…… (but that’s another story, as they say)

If there was one thing he felt strongly and got so angry about it was when students came to his lessons without the basics, i.e. they turned up without a pen, pencil, ruler, etc.

He was well read, an experienced teacher and planned his lessons carefully, so he regarded any delay in starting a lesson as a personal insult. His view was “If I take the trouble to plan my lessons and make them relevant and interesting, then why the heck can’t my students bring a pen and pencil with them?”

Thankfully, a couple of years before he retired, he found out about the “Student Essentials” set.

“If I’d known about this product thirty years ago then my life as a teacher would have been much easier and my students would almost certainly have got a lot more benefit from my lessons.”

The “Student Essentials” set is all about providing students with the basics they need and cutting out wasted time at the beginning of lessons….result? Improved productivity in both teaching and learning.

The “Student Essentials” set consists of three quality black ink ballpens, two full length HB pencils, an eraser, pencil sharpener and a 15 cm ruler, all packed in a clear “exam friendly” PVC wallet with a zip slider (size: 230 x 155 mm). It’s ideal to sell to your students (or maybe even give them away!) or use as prizes or incentives. From only 85p each, ex vat, it’s a simple, yet cost effective way of helping both teachers and students be more productive.

The “Student Essentials” set can be obtained from Signpost Educational Ltd. who can be contacted on: email: signpost@talk21.com or tel 020 7515 1797 or you can visit their website:

Earlier this year Epson undertook some research to better understand how the use of AV Technology in classrooms could help to create a step change in ‘Teaching practices, inclusion, and improved learning outcomes for all.’

With the assistance and guidance from former teacher and founder of www.teachertoolkit.co.uk, one of the most popular education websites in the world – Ross McGill – who was recognised by The Sunday Times as ‘one of the 500 most influential people in Britain’, the research conducted with 300 Local Authority controlled, Academy and Independent schools, found that 66% of those surveyed claimed that not being able to see a screen fully could hamper a pupil’s learning experience and 76% felt that having a poor view of the screen was linked to pupils’ disengagement.

The study offered a unique insight into the Education system within England and even surprised the experienced Ross, who commented that it appeared some students may be sitting in ‘cheap seats’. He observed that whilst the experience of teaching had a huge impact on the students learning, the positioning, size and how and where a teacher sits also impacted on the students’ outcome.

On the back of this compelling research, Epson made a pledge to assist Head Teachers and Governing bodies to understand whether they have any so called ‘cheap seats’ within their School and help ensure every student gets the learning experience they deserve by launching our Ambassador Schools Program to help create ‘The classroom of the future’.

To kickstart this program, Epson are offering 10 schools the opportunity to become Ambassador Schools, which entitles you to have 1 classroom fully kitted with the necessary equipment to have a classroom of the future. As a pilot member you will have the opportunity to share your education experience & knowledge with Epson and the wider education market and act as a reference site to demonstrate your achievements along with a number of other benefits.

To find out more about the ambassador programme, or to receive a FREE copy of the full research report please email us at education@epson.co.uk, or contact us at the number below.

Then imagine quality editions at £2.50 each. Then imagine a 25% discount.

Of course you might be reserved about such an offer because your notion of classic works might not be the same as ours.

So just in case you are concerned, we have set out our list of classic works from Vanity Fair to Emma, from The Time Machine to the poems of William Blake, from – well you can imagine the rest. The list is rather comprehensive on our website, and we hope that will reassure you.

But then again you might wonder about the quality of the books provided at such reasonable prices, which is why we are always happy to send you a free sample.

Or maybe you might feel that the books you require are not exactly classics – in which case just go to our home page and select the type of books you want to explore.

Now at this point I am hopeful that the options above will answer all your thoughts about how there can be, in the UK today, a publisher who can offer books which are said to be of the highest quality at such low prices.

But just in case not, here’s something else.

This year we introduced a new series of books that make wonderful prizes and rewards to be handed out on speech day and other special occasions.

These volumes are hardbacks, cloth-bound, with matching coloured end papers, embossed gold and colour blocking to enhance their beautiful, bespoke cover illustrations. And best of all they are just £6.99. The list of these titles is here.

I do hope you will find something of interest for you and your school on our website, but if not please do get in touch. Here are all details…

Imagine a child going home after school and volunteering to his/her parents the story of what happened during the day (rather than waiting to be asked, and then offering the shortest of answers).

And imagine further that what the child chooses to talk about is the school assembly, with parents also bringing up the subject when they attend a parents evening, talking to you about how certain assemblies have really made an impact on their child.

Of course, you may well find this happens from time to time, with the parents spontaneously mentioning assemblies, but even if so you will know that there is a constant pressure to find more and more assemblies that grab attention and give children insights into the moral, personal, and social world in which they live.

It was to provide such assemblies that my colleagues and I began to contemplate what made certain assemblies have a really strong influence on the children we teach.

We knew of course that we needed to create assemblies that were original, and which also met the social and emotional needs of the children who attend them and offer a focus on the values that the school wishes to present to the children.

As a result we have produced a set of over 350 assemblies with each one categorised and indexed, each of which is instantly available and fully scripted.

You can read a full example of one of our assemblies by following this link. Additionally you can see the complete list of the categories and from there you can go into each category and see the details of all the assemblies on offer.

It’s not easy to ensure that every student comes to school or college properly equipped for lessons or exams.

Some may simply have woken up late and left home in a rush. Some might benefit from being better organised while others need to learn to be a bit more responsible.

What we do know, however, is that time is often wasted at the start of lessons while some students try to borrow what they need to benefit from their lesson.

All it needs is for a few students to forget a pen, ruler, pencil, etc and what was supposed to be a well planned, interesting lesson can become unproductive if some students are ready & able to work while others are not.

But now there’s a simple, effective and low cost way of solving the problem ….it’s the “STUDENT ESSENTIALS” set.

Consisting of, three quality black ink pens, two full length HB pencils, a 15 cm ruler, pencil sharpener, eraser, all contained in a clear “exam friendly” PVC wallet with a zip slider…. From just 85p each, ex vat, it’s a simple and effective way of improving productivity and helping students succeed in their lessons and exams….not to mention making life easier for teaching staff.

Staff might like to keep “Student Essentials” sets in the school or department office and then sell or give to students when the need arises.

In the next couple of months, many will find themselves finishing up their degrees at university and bound for graduation. Even if you graduated last year, it may still feel like it’s just you and your trusty degree against the world? Feel reassured in the knowledge that you won’t be the first nor the last person to find yourself in this situation… feeling fairly daunted by the prospect of what’s on the horizon. It can be an emotional journey and so, we’re here to offer some guidance with our top five books for recent graduates. Find a title that works for you…

“So, What are You Going to Do With That?”

The title of Susan Basalla and Maggie Debelius’ self-help style script is something you’re going to have to get used to hearing over the next matter of months. For an adult, who has ‘got their life sorted’, this is their favourite question. Coming towards the end of your final academic year, and throughout the following year, unless you have already landed the job of your dream, you are going to be debating staying on in education. As the authors explain, remaining with academia is in no means a negative, however don’t feel afflicted to stay, and certainly don’t if you’re only doing so to fill time. The book goes on to respond to the question with a solid answer, giving you clarity in what your post-graduate life will entail.

“The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”

Not all the successes in your graduate life will hinge upon your ability to develop a killer curriculum vitae. At university, you may have realised that you ended up putting yourself under unnecessary stress, simply because you couldn’t find the book you were looking for. As opposed to tidying on a daily basis, Marie Kondo walks us through her guide in how cleaning up once and for all will have one of the most significant impacts on our day to day lives. The author suggests how a thorough decluttering will translate into massively increased productivity.

“Make Your Bed: Little Things that Can Change Your Life”

Admiral William McRaven, a retired US Navy SEAL, delivered a speech to the University of Texas, which has received more than ten million views on YouTube. Talking about his career, he noted how when he was training, he seen the task of making a perfect bed every morning fairly mundane and in some respects pointless, as he was going on to become a fighter. Now however, William, the author of Make Your Bed, sees carrying out that simplistic task at the start of each and every day as the most important thing — as that is the first challenge of the day achieved. The book goes on to talk the reader through the ten ‘life-changing principles’ which Admiral McRaven picked up during his time in service, and how these steps will help create a better you and give you a better relationship with the world.

The 2-Hour Job Search: Using Technology to Get the Right Job Faster

Steve Dalton’s 2012 manual will prove a trusted companion to graduates, and anyone currently seeking work alike. Despite the fact the internet has provided us with the opportunity to sift through a wide range of jobs that previously we might never have known about — actually managing to find the one for us can prove to be a rather complex task. Organisation is the key focus of Dalton’s piece of work, as he points to the different ways in which technology can be used to whittle down their search.

How to Win Friends and Influence People

Okay, so once you’ve managed to land a job, despite the fact it may only be a stop-gap, you need to make friends, otherwise your journey is going to be an incredibly tedious one. Unlike university, this isn’t going to be an easy experience. The first day in a new job isn’t going to be like the first day walking into university, because frankly, at this stage, not everyone will be in the same boat. You might be the most likeable person on this side of the Atlantic but that doesn’t mean everyone will warm to you.

In 2018, Warren Buffet was ranked as the third richest person in the world, and he credits this 1936 book with transforming his life. The American businessman and philanthropist found up a copy of Dale Carnegie’s guide on his grandfather’s bookshelf and suggests he has applied it through his career. Having shifted over 15 million copies worldwide, the book is ranked within the top 100 best-selling books ever and is certainly a must read, regardless of your situation.

Life is not something to fear, it is something to embrace, but hopefully with the help of these guides, you can successfully better yourself and prepare for the challenge ahead.

“The students (and staff) loved it – they are still talking about it. So thank you!” Winterhill School, Rotherham

Now is the best time to talk to us about bringing our popular production of A Christmas Carol to your school in the autumn term. Booking is open, and dates are being reserved for schools across the country. To ensure you have the pick of dates available, please contact us soon.

Returning for a third tour, A Christmas Carol, directed this year by Tracey Street, has proven popular with schools across the country. Either as a timely introduction to Dickens’s novella, or a great revision tool, we’ve found staff really appreciate our faithfulness to the text and our fresh and exciting retelling of the familiar story.

These are principles we follow in all of our in-school performances. This year we have have six amazing productions, for all of which you may reserve dates now.

Designed with the needs of your GCSE students in mind we have…

A CHRISTMAS CAROL(available from 14 October to 20 December)

MACBETH(available from 20 January to 07 February and 24 February to 08 May)

JEKYLL AND HYDE(available from 24 February to 08 May)

ROMEO AND JULIET(available from 03 to 14 February and 02 March to 08 May)

New for next year: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING(available from 02 March to 08 May)

And for your younger students…

FRED’S SHAKESPEAREANCE(available now and throughout the coming year)

Our fun-packed three hour introduction to Shakespeare, his life and works, designed for students who are about to embark on studying the Bard

Six professional actors perform our GCSE text-based productions; we feel fewer than six compromises quality. All Fred Theatre staff attending your school are DBS checked, trained in child safeguarding and experienced in the idiosyncrasies of in-school performances.

Teachers appreciate our commitment to the text and producing a faithful rendition of the original, just a little shorter! And, all we need to perform at your school is a space approximately 5m x 5m with room (of course) for the audience.

From October, we’re extending our time with you and your students to two hours. This enables us to include an interactive element between the cast and audience as part of the session. During this time there will be a discussion of the play’s themes, characters, how we approached the production, and choices made in rehearsal. There will also be a chance for you and your students to ask questions.

We are equally happy to run this as a continuous two hour session, or include a short break following the performance, whatever you feel will work best for you and your students.

Every student receives a programme that, along with cast and crew details, includes notes on the production and text, as well as support material for them to use in the interactive post-show session. Students will be able to keep these for use in class and as a valuable revision aid.

Also, from October, we will provide you with copies of information sheets, for distribution to students ahead of our being with you. These will provide valuable information about the text and production and we’re sure your students will want to keep them with their class notes to use in revision. These sheets will help build a sense of anticipation ahead of the performance, encouraging students to value our visit to your school, and make the most of their opportunity to learn from it.

As in previous years, we are happy to provide additional workshops if this is of interest to you. These are devised through discussion with you, and delivered by a member of our skilled education team. We can also arrange visits from our directors and artistic director.

To discuss any aspect of a visit from Fred Theatre to your school, please feel free to contact me or a member of our tour administration team. You can call us on 01789 777612 or email:

The Casio FX 83GT+ has been the UK’s best selling scientific calc…and deservedly so. It’s been setting the pace in many UK schools and is the first choice for GCSE exams for many students.

But now there is an alternative…… It’s the Logik LK 83XP which has almost all the features of the FX 83GT Plus (no verify or recurring decimal) and with one big advantage…… it’s dual power. This combination of battery and solar power prolongs battery life and gives extra reassurance for your students when used in exams.

The LK 83XP has a THREE year guarantee* and is suitable for all exams where a calculator is allowed. Features include: 252 functions, “natural (true) display,” check, correct and replay, stats. calculations, prime factorisation, hard plastic keys, slide on case, etc.

It’s a calc which can see your students all the way from year 7 to GCSE and at a surprisingly modest price, from just £5.25 ex vat.

The forecast shortfall of almost 400,000 social care staff by 2028 due to low pay and Britain’s departure from the European Union is a staggering figure, but it came as a conclusion in the ‘Fair Care: A workforce strategy for social care’ report, from the Institute for Public Policy and Research. We’ve teamed up with Acorn Stairlifts, an award-winning stairlift provider, to highlight that there are many opportunities available for focusing your career around the care industry though. Here’s five job roles which are worth considering…

Care worker

The key aim of a care worker is to ensure that patients can live as independently as possible, providing daily assistance in everyday tasks. You will be tasked to support people with their social and physical activities, as well as matters related to personal care and mobility.

Entry requirements

There are multiple options when it comes to career routes into a care role, ranging from apprenticeships, direct application to a vacancy, through a college course or by regular volunteering.

For those select the option of a college course, a wide variety of care industry programs exist — obtaining a Level 1 Certificate in Health and Social Care, for instance, or a Level 2 Diploma in Care.

Voluntary work for a relevant organisation is another possible entry system, meanwhile both lead adult care worker advanced apprenticeships and adult care worker intermediate apprenticeships can see you securing a permanent position as a care worker too.

Often, having prior experience of working with people is a desirable attribute in candidates who apply directly to an advertised vacancy, as training will generally be provided on the job. GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (or A* to C) in English and Maths, or equivalent qualifications, may also be requested from some employers.

Essential skills

A prospective recruit will have developed the following skills:

Be able to accept criticism.

Be able to communicate verbally in an exceptional manner.

Be able to pay attention to detail.

Be able to work effectively while under pressure.

Be patient and know how to remain calm even in stressful situations.

Have the ability to work well with others.

Showcase customer service skills.

Day-to-day duties to expect

Assisting a client with matters of personal care, including dressing, using the toilet and washing.

Assisting a client when it comes to how they pay bills, manage their budget and write letters.

Preparing food and then feeding a client, as well as giving out medication.

Taking the time to get to know a client, including their needs and interests.

Undertaking general tasks, such as housework, laundry and shopping.

Expected salary

According to Totaljobs, the average salary for care worker jobs is £16,622.

Jobs available*

Care home manager

Become a care home manager and both the leadership and day-to-day running of a residential care home will be your responsibility. Your tasks will ensure the facility meets industry standards, while you should also expect to manage budgets and contracts in place throughout the organisation.

Entry requirements

Going to university, completing an apprenticeship and progressing into the role by working in the care industry are all routes available which could see you becoming a care home manager.

Opt for the university route and you’ll want to study either a foundation degree, a higher national diploma or a degree in an associated subject such as health and social care management to begin with. Once you’ve completed your selected university course, you’ll want to apply for a place on a graduate trainee scheme.

Higher apprenticeships for children, young people and family managers are available too, if you would rather take this route. You can also start on an apprenticeship for care leadership and management, though take note that additional on-the-job training will be required once you’ve obtained this qualification.

If you already have a job in the care industry, there is the option to apply for training towards a role such as a deputy manager. You should be looking to begin studying for the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services, where you’ll get six pathways to select from:

Management of Adult Services

Management of Adult Residential Services

Practice in Adult Services

Management of Children and Young People’s Services

Management of Children and Young People’s Residential Services

Practice in Children and Young People’s Services

Essential skills

To be successful as a care home manager, you’ll need to showcase the following skills:

Be able to accept criticism.

Be able to understand a person’s reactions.

Be able to work effectively while under pressure.

Have knowledge about the English language.

Have knowledge about the subject of psychology.

Have the ability to work well with others.

Showcase customer service skills.

The ability to carry out counselling, such as active listening and how to take a non-judgmental approach.

Day-to-day duties to expect

Agreeing to contracts, budgeting and fundraising opportunities.

Assisting care home residents so that they can access local services.

Carrying out tasks to ensure a facility meets all legal requirement, such as those related to aspects of health and safety.

Delivering advice, information and support to care home residents, their families and other staff members at the facility.

Encouraging care home residents to participate in activities.

Monitoring the quality of care and business performance of a care home.

Promoting the rights and duties of care home residents.

Recruiting staff members, as well as training and supervising them.

Setting out practices and policies.

Expected salary

A salary prediction according to Totaljobs outlines the average pay for care home manager jobs as £37,500.

Jobs available*

Residential support worker

The standard duties of a residential support worker include looking after the mental and physical wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults within the care system.

Entry requirements

Like a care worker, you can secure work as a residential support worker by completing a college course, an apprenticeship, direct application or voluntary work with a relevant organisation.

Choices for college courses are vast, but it could be beneficial to look for awards such as the Level 2 Certificate for the Children and Young People’s Workforce, the Level 2 Certificate or Diploma in Youth Work Practice, the Level 2 Diploma in Work Preparation for Health and Social Care, or the Level 2 GCSE in Health and Social Care.

Progression from a role as a support worker within a children’s home, a care home or hostel is a route often taken to gain the role of a residential support worker, while some choose to complete an adult care worker intermediate apprenticeship instead.

If you are considering applying directly for a residential support worker position that’s become available, paid or voluntary experience within the social work and care sector is a sought-after experience for most employers.

Essential skills

Demonstrate these skills successfully in order to be shortlisted for any position as a a residential support worker:

Be able to communicate verbally in an exceptional manner.

Be able to pay attention to detail.

Be able to work effectively while under pressure.

Be patient and know how to remain calm even in stressful situations.

Have the ability to work well with others.

Showcase customer service skills.

Day-to-day duties to expect

Assisting residents when they have problems.

Communicating with the families of residents.

Educating residents about daily living skills, which could include aspects of budgeting, shopping and how to claim benefits.

Helping residents to become independent.

Hosting group therapy sessions.

Keeping an eye on the needs of a resident, as well as their progress.

Providing a resident with physical care, which might include bathing, dressing, feeding and toileting.

Providing counselling on a one-to-one basis.

Setting up creative and leisure activities within a safe and supportive environment.

Setting up both home and family visits for residents.

Expected salary

For residential support worker jobs, Totaljobs listed an average salary of £19,000.

Jobs available*

Advocacy worker

An advocacy worker is the port of call for patients in care homes who want to voice their opinions and wishes. As well as providing support to vulnerable people, they will also make sure each resident’s best interests have been considered whenever decisions are made about their lives.

Entry requirements

Interested in a career as an advocacy worker? There are opportunities to get into this role by studying a college course, volunteering, applying directly or taking a course which is run by a private training provider.

When looking for relevant college courses, consider that both a Level 2 Certificate in Health and Social Care or a Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care will be desired by employers. However, be aware that at least two GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (or A* to D) are often required to access a Level 2 course, while four or five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (or A* to C) are usually needed to get on a Level 3 course.

It is possible to volunteer as an advocate too. This route proves appealing as it’s a great way to obtain experience in the role, while volunteers receive both support and training so that they can develop their skills too.

For those who already work in a care home, direct application to an advocacy role is a potential way to secure a new role in advocacy. The experience that you’ve already gained from your time doing care work, social work or counselling is bound to allow you to stand out, though it’s important that you showcase an understanding of the needs of older citizens and display a positive attitude to ageing.

Furthermore, nationally recognised qualifications exist and they cover a wealth of essential modules in advocacy work, and they are generally courses provided by private training initiatives.

Essential skills

These skills are key for fulfilling an ambition to become an advocacy worker:

Be able to pay attention to detail.

Be able to work effectively while under pressure.

Be patient and know how to remain calm even in stressful situations.

Have knowledge about the subject of psychology.

Have the ability to work well with others.

Showcase customer service skills.

The ability to carry out counselling, such as active listening and how to take a non-judgemental approach.

Day-to-day realities

Assisting residents to explore the options available to them and how to make informed choices about them.

Assisting residents so that they can speak for themselves, as well as be able to speak on their behalf where necessary.

Attending meetings with residents to provide moral support, as well as attend meetings on their behalf where necessary.

Ensuring residents always have access to their care plan.

Ensuring residents are always being treated in a fair manner and with dignity.

Negotiating with others who are involved in decisions being made at a care home.

Researching information regarding the care industry and then explaining the details to relevant parties.

Expected salary

Data from Totaljobs places the average salary for advocacy jobs at £29,000.

Jobs available*

Nurse

A nurse provides care for patients who have an injury, physical disabilities or an illness. Within the care industry, they will perform clinical tasks to assist individuals who are based within a nursing home or within the community.

Entry requirements

A University degree or an apprenticeship are recognised career paths for nursing recruits.

University courses in adult nursing are available at numerous institutions, and they are approved by the Nursing & Midwifery Council. Alternatively, there could be the chance to start studying for a nursing degree on the second year of a course if you’ve already obtained a degree in life sciences, psychology, social work or a health-related subject.

Apprenticeship degrees are an ever-popular option for nursing students, as they provide a mixture of academic learning and practical experience in a care unit. It is important to be aware that support from your employer must be provided in order for you to work your way along this route though.

Essential skills

Any prospective nurse will need to have the following skill set:

Be able to pay attention to detail.

Be able to work effectively while under pressure.

Be patient and know how to remain calm even in stressful situations.

Have knowledge about the subject of psychology.

Have the ability to work well with others.

Showcase customer service skills.

Showcase thinking and reasoning skills.

A day in the life of a nurse

Clean and dress wounds.

Monitor the progress of patients.

Provide advice to both patients and their relatives.

Provide residents with drugs prescribed to them.

Provide residents with necessary injections.

Set up drips and blood transfusions.

Take the blood pressure, pulse rate and temperature of a resident.

Expected salary

Totaljobs have pinpointed the average salary for a qualified nurse at £31,787.

Apparently yes, it is possible, because so far over 100,000 secondary school students have watched the theatrical presentation “Alphabet of a Teenager” in their own school. Feedback from teachers has been universally positive.

What these students have seen is a production that covers 36 PSHE issues in one 60 minute performance.

The play follows a teenager as he reflects on how his life has changed over his time at school, the friends he’s made along the way and the trials and tribulations of teenage life. The performance encompasses drugs and alcohol education, emotional health and wellbeing, work-related learning, racism and cyber safety.

Alphabet of a Teenager was put together with a consortium of educators, writers and performers ensuring that it works for pupils and students every time – and with productions having taken place in over 800 schools, we can certainly verify that this is the case.

There are also optional follow up workshops which delve deeper into the issues raised.

The Casio FX 83 GT+ was the UK’s best selling scientific calc for many years……and deservedly so. It set the pace in many UK schools & colleges and was the first choice for GCSE exams for many schools.

But now it’s been discontinued, having been replaced by an upgraded spec’ model at a higher price. Top grade maths students are likely to benefit from this new model (FX83GTX), but what about the majority, for whom the FX83GT+ was perfectly adequate and available at a reasonable price?

Well, the news is positive. There is an alternative……

It’s the Logik LK 83XP which has a similar keyboard and almost all the features of the FX 83GT Plus but with one big advantage…… it’s dual power. This combination of battery and solar power prolongs battery life and gives students extra reassurance, especially when used in exams.

The LK 83XP has a THREE year guarantee* and is suitable for all exams where a calculator is allowed. Features include: 252 functions, “natural (textbook) display,” check, correct and replay, stats calculations, prime factorisation, hard plastic keys, slide on case etc.

It’s a calc which can see your students all the way from year 7 to GCSE and at a surprisingly modest price. From £ 5.25 ex vat. (*excludes LCD damage)

To rectify the current deficiencies in funding children’s mental health and other emotional and behaviour issues of primary school pupils the All Party Parliamentary Group for a Fit and Healthy Childhood has published the Child Mental Health Charter which builds upon the themes of the APPG’s 12th report ‘Children’s Mental Health Beyond the Green Paper: The Role of Practice-Based Evidence.’

The Charter is a blueprint for the Bill. It already has the support of 30 MPs but just as important is your support. If successful there will be more funding for primary schools to support training and therapy.

Most schools use wall art to enhance noticeboards and to ensure that pupils are fully informed about school policy and procedure and also to deliver key messages.

Travelling around the UK we see thousands of posters on school noticeboards on our travels, some of which really do enhance key messages.

The posters within the realms of PSHE often have to be created by schools themselves and therefore don’t have the same flair and design quality as other subjects.

We’ve also not been able to find a company who produce a digital download variation of their posters, for you to print at school.

Whilst a poster arriving delivered is important and time saving, it can also be costly and overlooks the fact that most schools have reprographics who can print posters in any size of premium print quality.

Digital download options in A1-A4 are an option for our PSHE posters and the A4 size starts at £3.99, with an A1 poster costing £7.99 – manageable for almost any PSHE budget.

We have a poster on the facts about bullying, celebrating diversity, facts about drugs and alcohol, revision techniques and a few posters on informed choices.

The Casio FX 83GT+ has been the UK’s best selling scientific calc…and deservedly so. It’s been setting the pace in many UK schools and is the first choice for GCSE exams for many students.

But now there is an alternative…… It’s the Logik LK 83XP which has almost all the features of the FX 83GT Plus (no verify or recurring decimal) and with one big advantage…… it’s dual power. This combination of battery and solar power prolongs battery life and gives extra reassurance for your students when used in exams.

The LK 83XP has a THREE year guarantee* and is suitable for all exams where a calculator is allowed. Features include: 252 functions, “natural (true) display,” check, correct and replay, stats. calculations, prime factorisation, hard plastic keys, slide on case, etc.

It’s a calc which can see your students all the way from year 7 to GCSE and at a surprisingly modest price, from just £5.25 ex vat.

Imagine a child who has a total grasp of a subject – perhaps history, or geography, or French, or maths.

But now imagine that same child without the ability effectively to communicate her or his knowledge. As far as the rest of the world is concerned that young person simply hasn’t learned.

Of course this is an extreme case, but in essence every child with poor communication skills has difficulties – not just in self-expression but also in listening and understanding.

In short the child with communication problems has difficulties with every aspect of learning.

And this problem affects a huge number of children. Ican, for example, has suggested that at least 10% of young people across the UK have communication difficulties severe enough to be hindering their learning, and causing difficulties in areas such as problem-solving and maintaining relationships.

To overcome this problem what is needed is a way for children to learn effective two-way interactive communication so that they can participate both in the formal side of their education and the social side of being at school.

But the problem is, how can this be arranged within the current financial situation?

NLP4kids works in this area with many schools around the UK, and our work includes helping schools access government funding specifically set aside for this sort of project – thus effectively making our services available free of charge to the school.

If you would like to know more about our work in improving students’ communication skills and about the funding, please do have a look at our communication skills webpage.

To discuss the options without any obligation please do call 0345 3192 666 or 0203 6677 294 or email me at gemma@NLP4Kids.org

The Child Mental Health Charter was launched on 11th March. It has evolved from the ‘Children’s Mental Health beyond the Green Paper,’ report published on 30th January 2019 produced by a range of experts and practitioners, members of the All Party Parliamentary Group on a Fit and Healthy Childhood.

It enshrines six broadly-based principles which can be used immediately as a definitive set of de-facto standards for all those working therapeutically with children in primary schools with the objective of improving the safety and effectiveness of practice. It will also enhance the credibility of the school as caring for their pupils and supporting parents.

The Charter calls upon the Government to make this the blueprint to reform the 1983 Mental Health Act in 2019. The report also urges that more funding is made available to primary schools for the training of school staff and employment in a therapeuticrole, together with joined up working with other services. A campaign has just been launched to gather a large number of supporters to help achieve these objectives more quickly.

Six marvellous productions – a more inter-active experience – greater learner support

Here at Fred Theatre H.Q. we are very excited about our plans for the upcoming school year. We are bringing back popular productions from this year, adding to them, and making a few changes to what we offer. Altogether, these will give you and your students a more exciting and valuable experience.

We have six amazing productions, for all of which you may reserve dates from today.

Designed with the needs of your GCSE students in mind we have…

A CHRISTMAS CAROL(available from 14 October to 20 December)

MACBETH(available from 20 January to 07 February and 24 February to 08 May)

JEKYLL AND HYDE(available from 24 February to 08 May)

ROMEO AND JULIET(available from 03 to 14 February and 02 March to 08 May)

New for next year: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING(available from 02 March to 08 May)

And for your younger students…

FRED’S SHAKESPEAREANCE(available now and throughout the coming year)Our fun-packed three hour introduction to Shakespeare, his life and works, designed for students who are about to embark on studying the Bard

Six professional actors perform our GCSE text-based productions; we feel a smaller cast compromises quality. All Fred Theatre staff attending your school are DBS checked, trained in child safeguarding and experienced in the idiosyncrasies of in-school performances.

Teachers appreciate our commitment to the text and producing a faithful rendition of the original, just a little shorter! And, all we need to perform at your school is a space approximately 5m x 5m with room (of course) for the audience.

From October, we’re extending our time with you and your students to two hours. This enables us to include an interactive element between the cast and audience as part of the session. During this time there will be a discussion of the play’s themes, characters, how we approached the production, and choices made in rehearsal. There will also be a chance for you and your students to ask questions.

We are equally happy to run this as a continuous two hour session, or include a short break following the performance, whatever you feel will work best for you and your students.

Every student receives a programme that, along with cast and crew details, includes notes on the production and text, as well as support material for them to use in the interactive post-show session. Students will be able to keep these for use in class and as a valuable revision aid.

Also, from October, we will provide you with copies of information sheets, for distribution to students ahead of our being with you. These will provide valuable information about the text and production and we’re sure your students will want to keep them with their class notes to use in revision. These sheets will help build a sense of anticipation ahead of the performance, encouraging students to value our visit to your school, and make the most of their opportunity to learn from it.

As in previous years, we are happy to provide additional workshops if this is of interest to you. These are devised through discussion with you, and delivered by a member of our skilled education team. We can also arrange visits from our directors and artistic director.

To discuss any aspect of a visit from Fred Theatre to your school, please feel free to contact me or a member of our tour administration team. You can call us on 01789 777612 or email:

The Casio FX 83 GT+ was the UK’s best selling scientific calc…and deservedly so. It’s been setting the pace in many UK schools & colleges and was the first choice for GCSE exams for many students.

But now it’s been discontinued, having been replaced by an upgraded spec’ model at a higher price. Top grade maths students are likely to benefit from this new model (FX83GTX), but what about the majority, for whom the FX83GT+ was perfectly adequate and available at a reasonable price?

Well, the news is positive. There is an alternative……

It’s the Logik LK 83XP which has almost all the features of the FX 83GT Plus but with one big advantage…… it’s dual power. This combination of battery and solar power prolongs battery life and gives students extra reassurance, especially when used in exams.

The LK 83XP has a THREE year guarantee* and is suitable for all exams where a calculator is allowed. Features include: 252 functions, “natural (textbook) display,” check, correct and replay, stats calculations, prime factorisation, hard plastic keys, slide on case, etc.

It’s a calc which can see your students all the way from year 7 to GCSE and at a surprisingly modest price. (*excludes LCD damage)

The rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated

Mark Twain’s famous comment made, supposedly, on reading an obituary of himself while on a lecture tour in England might equally have been applied these last few years not to Mark Twain himself but to the whole concept of books in their printed form.

The printed book is dead, digital is king, we were told. And yet, and yet…

The printed book does not just struggle on, it is thriving. While sales of electronic books have started to decline, sales of printed books are rapidly recovering.

And one can understand why from several points of view.

For example, with the cost of quality paperback books having declined to as little as £1.88 each (with no minimum order and no delivery charge) many schools are taking the opportunity to reintroduce students to a revitalised school library.

Others are choosing a set of books and offering students the chance to take one book each to read, report back on it to the whole class, and then keep the copy of the volume for themselves.

Indeed the choice in fact is enormous. If you would like to see our full list, grouped into collections, please take a look at this page from our website.

But if this all seems to be too good to be true we also have our offer of a free book just in case you have not come across Wordsworth Editions before.

To receive a free sample of one of our classics without any obligation whatsoever just email education@wordsworth-editions.com with your name and the school address, and we’ll put it in the post to you with our compliments.

Ordering, likewise is simple. For the books are supplied for us by Bookpoint Ltd, and there is a very high chance in percentage terms that you will have an existing accounts. You can find full details on our website.

I do hope you will have a look at what we have to offer, and join thousands of other schools that are relishing this revised interest in the printed, as opposed to the digital.

It’s not easy to ensure that every student comes to school or college properly equipped for lessons or exams.

Some may simply have woken up late and left home in a rush. Some might benefit from being better organised while others need to learn to be a bit more responsible.

What we do know, however, is that time is often wasted at the start of lessons while some students try to borrow what they need to benefit from their lesson.

All it needs is for a few students to forget a pen, ruler, pencil etc and what was supposed to be a well planned, interesting lesson can become unproductive if some students are ready and able to work while others are not.

But NOW there’s a simple, effective and low cost way of solving the problem ….it’s the “STUDENT ESSENTIALS” set.

Consisting of, three quality black ink pens, two full length HB pencils, a 15 cm ruler, pencil sharpener, eraser, all contained in a clear “exam friendly” PVC wallet with a zip slider…. From just 85p each, ex vat it’s a simple and effective way of improving productivity and helping students succeed in their lessons and exams. …not to mention making life easier for teaching staff.

Staff might like to keep “Student Essentials” sets in the school or department office and then sell or give to students when the need arises.